Repaired 'Benzaiten' statue unveiled in Iwate Pref.

Repaired 'Benzaiten' statue unveiled in Iwate Pref.

MORIOKA, Japan - The statue of "Benzaiten," a Japanese goddess originated from the Hindu goddess Saraswati, is displayed in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on Aug. 31, 2014, after repairs from damaged caused by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami were completed. It was originally enshrined at the town's gourd-shaped Horai Island (L back), regarded as the model of the island in the TV puppet show "Hyokkori Hyotanjima."

Puppeteer reunites with old buddy in Tokyo

Puppeteer reunites with old buddy in Tokyo

Veteran puppeteer Ikue Namba poses for photos at a cafe in Tokyo on Aug. 15, 2015, with a puppet of "Torahige," a character from the children's puppet show "Hyokkori Hyotanjima" aired on the public network NHK TV in the 1960s. Namba, 80, manipulated the puppet on the program. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Puppeteer delights fans with live performance in Tokyo

Puppeteer delights fans with live performance in Tokyo

Veteran puppeteer Ikue Namba (L) operates a puppet of "Torahige," a character from the children's puppet show "Hyokkori Hyotanjima" aired on the public network NHK TV in the 1960s, at a cafe in the Harajuku district of Tokyo on Aug. 15, 2015. Namba, 80, manipulated the puppet on the program. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Repaired 'Benzaiten' statue unveiled in Iwate Pref.

Repaired 'Benzaiten' statue unveiled in Iwate Pref.

MORIOKA, Japan - The statue of "Benzaiten," a Japanese goddess originated from the Hindu goddess Saraswati, is displayed in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on Aug. 31, 2014, after repairs from damaged caused by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami were completed. It was originally enshrined at the town's gourd-shaped Horai Island (L back), regarded as the model of the island in the TV puppet show "Hyokkori Hyotanjima." (Kyodo)